Poland: "Don't be discouraged

Scan page 7

Solidarnosc leaders have pledged to fight government plans for increased prices. But a new winter brings in its train a new catalogue Scargill gets it right Inside l

EDITORIAL comment recently published in the underground Warsaw weekly 'Tygodnik Mazowaze' concerning the present situation in Poland.

A YEAR ago many of us believed that "the' spring will be ours" and that it would not be long before we can pressure the authorities to make concessions. However, it gradually became apparent that neither demonstrations nor strikes would bring about the changes we hoped for. The feeling of joyful unity and strength that grew after the passivity among many people. It was believed that, particularly after the unsuccessful actions on 10 November, such feelings would be shared by a large part of society, the more so because the hopes that were pinned on the anticipated lifting of martial law does not even give the appearance of a compromise, but is an open prolongation of military government during a time of peace.

Those who believed that the underground had been crushed by the police and that Solidarnose would not be reborn have been supported in thinking this way by (official) propaganda. Skilfully exploiting and spreading feelings of defeatism, it demonstrates how the authorities have won the war. In practice it looks more or less like this: Silesia is mining ever more extra tonnes of coal; centres of the PRON (Patriotic Council of National Salvation) vote for social accord; and carp was available at Christmas.

Meanwhile we see on TV how the militia have been capturing those in hiding, confiscating printing presses, breaking down various points of social resistance, while remnants of the underground give themselves up each day at the voivoidship (regional) militia stations.

Influenced by TV and the whispered 1. 01 the of "full normalisation" is supposed to emerge.

of shortages.

Has resistance really faded out completely? Is NSZZ Solidarnose only a slogan without any real programme of action? Did the authorities manage to strangle all independent initiatives?

The existence of Solidarnosc is undoubtedly less obvious than during the first months of the "state of war". Demonstrations are out of the question, symbolic protest actions in factories are rarely organised, Solidarnose flags and posters rarely appear and union badges are no longer worn.

At present, the union's activities have little effect and are scarcely noticeable to an outside observer, because they are aimed at building structures and forms of activity which will survive not just for months but for years.

Of course, some of the activists have been leaving, but those who remain are determined to continue the arduous and often unthankful work for the union, nd are prepared mous risks.

Many secret Solidarnose cells are active, particularly the large factories and universities. Iney take care or the victims 01 repression, collect financial aid, distribute the oress : a boycott of collaborators.

hey undertake activities which im to prove the presence of Solidarnosc in workplaces.

Slogans

The following lovely "state of war" the factory walls were stamped with the slogar "Remember December 66° tocente with the image to Walesa and the Gdansk crosses;

Solidarnosc flag beel hung under the ceiling in one of th production departments.

hich remained there for two ays; leaflets were billposted, UI nderneath people lit candles id lay down flowers; a list of CO laborators was hung up.

Despite intensive efforts by involves their trade unions. I size they are very small, weal and completely isolated from thr workers in those enterprises. I seems very unlikely that the will gain any popularity.

The publication movement i undoubtedly the most importan and the most vital part of under ground life. Dozens of indepen dent publications appear. They are less numerous today that six months ago. On the other hand, more of them appeal regularly and have a highes print run and regular writers and readers. From the very beginning of the war the Wroclaw newspaper 'From Day to Day has been published, numbering 260 issues already, and the Warsaw Informacja Solidarnosci has had 108 issues printed. Factory newspapers are, for their social circles, important centres of independent activity.

Publishing

The publication movemen creates • widespread under. ground structures which are not always linked with Solidarnosc. Every such initiative activates dozens of co-workers. Literary and political circles are alsc emerging. Apart from the large "prewar" publishers, such as the Independent Publishing House Nowa or the Circle, there are "wartime" publishing houses, for example Warsaw's CDN or the Poznan Publishing House Syzyt. They print material that has no chance of being officially printed - from ambitious publications on modern history to human and war poetry. We only become familiar with some of these independent publications (such as the Karkonosze Publishing Association when PAP (the Polish Press Agency) informs us that they have been liquidated.

It is difficult to estimate the number of people whom the independent press or books actually reaches. By supplying information and influencing the opinion of thousands of people, the independent publishing movement moulds the consciousness of the generation which will decide about the future shape of Poland...

Reprinted from Voice of Solidarnosc no. 74

----- pull-quotes -----

example from the the Warsely The first leviver arty the